Removable mullion



March 10, 1942. J -,5; 2,275,730

REMOVABLE MULLION Original Filed Jan. 13, 1939 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 WYEHZQT" n/O6EPH [1 Chart.

March 10, 1942. J. E. CASSE REMOVABLE MULLION I Original Filed Jan. 13, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 i v /////I/// l 'Ilal l: J nT i iii-5 0/ 4.

March 10, 19 42.

' J. E. CASSE REMOVABLE MULLION Original Filed Jan. 13, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Mar. 10, 1942 REMOVABLE MULLION Joseph E. Casse, Detroit, Mich, assignor to Crawford Door Company,

poration of Michigan Detroit, Mich, a cor- Original application January 13, 1939, Serial No. 250,688. Divided and this application March 9, 1940, Serial No. 323,060

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a removable mullion or stile construction adapted for mounting between adjoining closures for an opening such as a doorway.

More specifically the invention relates to a removable vertical mullion or stile, for upward acting door constructions having adjoining doors, that is adapted to be bodily removed from the doorway when the doors are in open position to provide an unobstructed opening.

This application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 250,688, filed January 13, 1939, entitled: Upward acting door and removable-mullion therefor.

It is frequently desirable to close wide doorways with independent upward acting adjoining closures to avoid use of very large and heavy doors and to make possible an opening of only part of the doorway. This requires doors or closures which extend only partly across the width of the doorway. Such doors or closures must be guided or supported along their adjoining edge portions by means of a stationary vertical mullion, post or stile. These supports or guides, however, are objectionable since they obstruct the doorway when two adjoining closures are open and prevent passage of wide bodies through the doorway.

This invention now provides the required guide or support, hereinafter referred to as a mullion, in a removable form so that the same can be taken out of the doorway when adjoining closures are in open position.

While the invention will hereinafter be specifically described in connection with a pair of adjoining upward acting. garage doors, it should be understood that the invention is adapted for use with other types of closures.

According to the invention disclosed in the drawings, a pair of upward acting sectional type garage doors are mounted for vertical and horizontal movement in tracks supporting and guiding rollers extending from the sides of the doors. A metal mullion is removably mounted in vertical position between the doors and extends from the lintel of the doorway to the floor or sill. This mullion is preferably formed by extrusion of an aluminum alloy and is so shaped as to define tracks or guides on both sides thereof for the rollers projecting from the adjoining sides of the doors. The mullion carries resilient weatherstrips adapted to spring against the outer faces of the doors when the same are in closed position to seal any spaces between the doors and the mullion.

The bottom of the mullion is removably mounted in a fixed floor plate while the top of the mullion is readily latched into aligned position with the fixed tracks of the assembly.

It is, then, an object of this invention to provide a removable mullion for adjoining closures.

Another object of the invention is to provide an extruded aluminum alloy removable mullion for closures.

-A specific object of the invention is to provide a removable mullion for upward acting doors adapted to ,be quickly and easily latched into operative position for guiding and supporting the adjacent edges of a pair of doors as the doors are moved to a closed position.

A further specific object of this invention is to provide a one-piece light-weight removable mullion for upward acting doors having track portions for receiving and guiding the door rollers and also having a transverse wall bridging the space between the adjoining edges of the doors and carrying weatherstrips for coacting with the outer faces of the doors to seal said space.

A further object of the invention is to provide a removable mullion for upward acting doors adapted to be seated at its bottom end in a socket plate secured in the doorway and tilted normally to the doorway into and out of operative vertical position between the top and bottom of the doorway.

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the annexed sheets of drawings which disclose a preferred embodiment of the invention.

On the drawings:

' Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of a doorway viewed from the inside thereof and having upward acting doors mounted therein in closed position with a removable mullion, according to this invention, bridging the space between the adjoining edges of the doors.

Figure 2 is a broken fragmentary elevational View, similar to Figure l but illustrating the doors in opened position and with the mullion removed from the doorway.

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view, with parts in elevation, taken along the line III-III of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal cross-sectional view with parts in elevation taken along the line IVIV of Figure 1. 4

Figure 5 is an enlarged horizontal cross-sectional View, with parts omitted, taken along the line VV of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view taken along the line VI-VI of Figure 3.

Figure '7 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view, with parts in elevation, taken along the line VIIVII of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view, with parts in elevation, taken along the line VIII-VIII of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is an enlarged broken elevational view of the removable mullion.

Figure 10 is a top plan view of the mullion.

As shown on the drawings:

In Figures 1 and 2, the reference numeral l8 designates a doorway defined by side door jambs II and I2, by a lintel I3 extending between the tops of the door jambs and by a floor l4 extending between the bottoms of the door jambs.

A roof or ceiling |3a extends inwardly from the doorway H1 at a level above the bottom of the lintel l3.

The doorway H] is closed by a pair of doors A and B, mounted on rollers for horizontal movement below the ceiling or roof |3a and for vertical movement into the doorway. The doors A and B are of the horizontal sectional type with the door A composed of hinged-together sections a, a a a and a and the door B composed of hinged-together sections b, b b b and b.

A vertical track I5 is secured to each side jamb II and I2 with the open faces of the tracks facing the doorway I0. Curved track sections H5 communicate with the tops of the track Hi and with horizontal tracks |1 extending inwardly from the doorway. The curved tracks l6 and the adjoining ends of the horizontal tracks H are supported from metal brackets I8 secured to the lintel l3. These brackets l8 also rotatably support pulleys IS.

A floor bracket 20 is fixedly mounted on the floor M in the center of the doorway |0. As best shown in Figure 5, the bracket 20 has a wide heel portion 20a, a base 2% extending forwardly therefrom and toe portions 280 defining curved sockets facing the heel portion.

A vertical mullion 2| (Figure 1) has the bottom end thereof mounted in the floor bracket 20. The mullion 2| as best shown in Figures 3 and 4 provides vertical tracks 22 and 23 on each side thereof.

As shown in Figures 3, 4, 9 and 10 the mullion 2| has a web portion 2 la extending between the tracks 22 and 23 and a transverse outer wall or flange 2|b. The bottom end of this transverse wall 2|b abuts the heel 20a of the floor bracket 20 while the tracks 22 and 23 abut the curved sockets provided by the toes 230 of the bracket 20 as shown in Figure 5. Legs 2|c and 2|d extend from opposite sides of the web 2 hr between the back wall 2|b and the tracks 22 and 23. These legs cooperate with the tracks to hold the door rollers therein as best shown in Figure 4.

As shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, angle plates 24 are secured to the inner face of the lintel [3 above the floor bracket 23. These angle plates 24 have inwardly extending flanges 25 in abutting relation, each carrying a curved track section 26 and 21. The curved track 25 communicates with the track 22 of the mullion 2| while the curved track 21 communicates with the track 23 of the mullion 2|.

Horizontal tracks 28 and 29 extend inwardly from the upper ends of the curved track sections 25 and 21 respectively.

As best shown in Figure 3, the inner ends of the horizontal tracks, such as the inner end of the track 28, are carried on a transverse support 30 suspended from the ceiling or roof l3a. This transverse support 30 extends across the entire width of the doorway so as to also carry the inner ends of the horizontal tracks l1. Counterbalancing spring actuated pulleys such as 3| are rotatably mounted in the support 30 in alignment with the pulleys l9 and with pulleys 32 and 33 rotatably carried by the flanges 25 of the angle plates 24. Separate cables such as 34 are adapted to be wound around the spring actuated pulleys such as 3|, are trained. over the pulleys I9, 32 and 33 aligned with the actuated pulleys and are secured at their other ends to the bottom door sections a and b.

As best shown in Figures 3, 7 and 8, the top of the mullion 2| fits under the lower ends of the curved tracks 26 and 21. A bracket 35 is bolted to the bottom of the lintel |3 to abut the top portion of the back wall 2|b of the mullion as also shown in Figure 4.

The web 2|a of the mullion 2| has a U-shaped plate 36 extending above the top thereof. Legs 31 of the plate fit over the sides of the web and. are riveted thereto by rivets 38.

The plate 35 extends above the top of the mullion between the legs 2 lo and 2 Id and the tracks 22 and 23 thereof and is adapted to slide between the end portions of the adjoining curved track sections 26 and 21 which extend beneath the flanges 25 cf the angle plates 24. These flanges 25 space the track ends to define a slot therebetween for receiving the portion of the plate 36 above the mullion.

A housing 46 for a spring-pressed latch bolt 4| is bolted to a plate 42 carried by the tracks 22 and 23 of the mullion 2| at the top ends of the tracks. The plate 42 can be secured to the tracks as by welding.

As best shown in Figures 3, 7 and 8, the bottoms ofthe flanges 25 of the angle plates 24 have a tooth defining portion 43 extending downwardly from their inner bottom edges and provided with inwardly sloping edge portions 43a. The tooth forms an abutment for the top of the latch bolt 4| toretain the mullion in seated position against the bracket 35 so that the mullion tracks will be in alignment with the curved track sections 26 and 21. The plate 35 holds the mullion against sidewise movement since it is snugly received between the curved track sections.

The latch bolt 4| has an actuating chain 44 projecting from the bottom of the housing 40 as shown in Figures 1, 3 and 9 so that the bolt can be retracted into the housing beneath the tooth to permit an inward tilting of the mullion out of position for removing the same from the doorway.

The mullion is readily inserted into operative position in the doorway by first seating the bottom end thereof into the fioor bracket 20 with the tracks 22 and 23 thereof abutting the toes of the floor bracket. The top of the mullion is then swung toward the doorway to position the plate 36 between the curved tracks. The sloping edge 43a of the tooth defining portions 43 will automatically retract the latch bolt 4| so that it will pass under the tooth 43 and will then snap into abutting relation against the other edge of the tooth. The latch bolt will thus hold the top end of the mullion against the bracket 35 and will prevent unintentional removal of the mullion.

The top end of the mullion slopes downwardly from the tracks 22 and 23 thereof as shown in Figure 3 in order to facilitate a tilting of the mullion into operative position.

The flanges 25 of the angle plates 24 receive a bolt 56 therethrough as best shown in Figures 3, 7 and 8. The bolt 50 rotatably supports latch members 5| and 52 in alignment with the tracks 25 and 21 respectively. Each latch member 5| and 52 has a hook-like top portion 53 adapted to project into a slot 54 cut in each track 26 and 21. Each latch and 52 also has a downwardly projecting tail portion 55 adapted to be abutted by the plate 42 of the mullion 2|.

A spring 56 urges the top portions of both latch members 5| and 52 so that their hooklike ends 53 will extend through the slots 54. The action of the spring, however, is opposed by the plate 42 on the mullion 2| when the mullion is mounted into operating position as shown in Figures 3, 7 and 8. As therein shown the plate 42 abuts the tails 55 of the latches to retract the hook portions 53 from the slots. Whenever the mullion is removed from its operating position these tail portions 55 are released and the spring will move the latches to seat their hooklike ends into the track slots. When seated, these hook-like ends 53 will prevent a closing of the doors A and B, since they will obstruct the passage of the door rollers in the track sections 26 and 21.

This arrangement therefore provides an automatic safety lock preventing a closing of the door when the mullion is removed from the doorway. The safety locks are automatically unlatched when the mullion is mounted in operating position. 7

As shown in Figures 1 and 3 the door sections of the door A are hinged together by means of hinges 60 secured to the inner faces of adjacent door sections at the edges of the door sections. The sections of the door B are similarly hinged together by means of hinges 6|.

Each hinge 60 and El can have the pivot pin 62 therefor carry a roller 63 mounted for movement in the tracks as shown in Figure 3.

The top door section a carries an additional set of rollers 64 on axles 65 mounted at the top of the door section along the edges thereof as shown in Figures 1 and 3. The top door section b of the door B carries similar rollers and axles.

When the mullion 2| is mounted in operative position as shown in Figures 1 and 3, the doors A and B can be operated along the vertical, curved, and horizontal tracks to move the door sections between a closed vertical position and an overhead open horizontal position. However, when the mullion is removed as shown in Figure 2, the doors A and B must be in open overhead position since the rollers 63 of the doors in closed position will prevent removal of the mullion. With the doors in their opened overhead position, the mullion can be readily removed as described above. The safety latches or looks then prevent the doors from being closed beyond the position shown in Figure 2 so that the doors can not fall out of their guiding and supporting tracks.

As best shown in Figures 4, 5 and 9 the transverse wall 2|b of the mullion 2| has longitudinal groove 10 formed along the inner face thereof near the outer ends of the wall. Resilient metal weather strips H are adapted to be snapped into these grooves 10 along the fulll length of the mullion. The weatherstrips II have free end portions I2 projecting inwardly from the wall 2|b into abutting relation with the outer faces of the doors A and B as shown in Figure 4 for sealing any spaces between the outsides of the doors and the mullion. The doors can readily slide relative to the weatherstrips since the strips are resilient From the above descriptions it should be un-- derstood that the mullion constructions of this invention provide many desired advantages in door constructions and present required supports and guides for adjoining upward acting doors. At the same time the mullions of this invention act as seals between adjoining doors or closures.

The mullions can be made of light-weight material such as aluminum alloy and can be produced at reasonable cost by an extruding process. Heat-treated extruded aluminum alloy mullions having tensile strengths of 30,000 pounds per square inch are very satisfactory.

It will, of course, be understood that various details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention and it is, therefore, not the purpose to limit the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A removable mullion for upward acting closures which comprises an elongated one-piece light weight member having a longitudinal web portion, a transverse wall extending laterally from said web portion along the length thereof, said wall adapted to bridge a space between two adjoining closures, longitudinal grooves in the inner face of said wall on each side of said web portion, longitudinal spring metal weather strips snapped in said groove and projecting inwardly from said inner face to contact the closures for sealing the space therebetween, curved tracks extending outwardly from said web portion in spaced relation from the transverse wall, and legs extending from said web portion between said tracks and transverse wall to hold rollers in said tracks.

2. A removable mullion for upward acting closures which comprises an elongated one-piece lightweight member having a' longitudinal web portion, a transverse wall extending laterally from the web portion along the length thereof, said wall adapted to bridge a space between two adjoining closures and the inner face of said wall having longitudinal grooves on each side of the web portion, at least one longitudinal edge of said grooves having an undercut recess therein, metal weatherstrips snapped into said grooves and held therein by said undercut portion thereof, said weatherstrips projecting inwardly from the inner face of the wall to contact the closures for sealing the space therebetween, and an integral track portion on each side of the web portion in spaced relation from said wall portion adapted to receive and guide rollers projecting from the closures.

3. A mullion construction for spaced adjacent closure members comprising an elongated member, a web portion on said elongated member extending between said closure members, a transverse wall portion extending laterally from each side of said web portion for bridging the space between said closure members and having a 1ongitudinal groove in the inner face thereof on each side of the web, and a Weatherstrip snapped in each groove and having a projecting resilient portion for bridging and sealing the space between the transverse wall portion and the adjacent closure member.

JOSEPH E. CASSE. 

